As businesses in Singapore are compelled to speed up their digital transformation, e-commerce offering and support their employees working from home to adapt to COVID-19, the IT Director role has been at the forefront of this shift.
Top IT directors have always been in demand, but with more industries utilizing Big Data and non-traditional IT solutions – especially enterprise-centric mobile applications – more companies are seeking candidates for these IT leadership roles.
And if you do not yet have an IT Director on your team, this might be the time to hire one. Any company that uses large databases needs an IT Director, not just administrators and support staff.
This article shares what makes this role so important within business, how it will drive the future of work, and what you need to know before you make a hire.
What does an IT Director do in Singapore?
An IT Director (or Tech Director) is tasked with assessing, maintaining, and upgrading business IT systems. They head up the IT team and oversee budgets and supplier relationships. This role is software and information-based, as well as being strategic in nature.
IT Director skills place them firmly between the C-suite and the business IT function. Professionals should have the collaborative skills needed to knit teams together and work seamlessly alongside other departments to meet IT needs and hit growth targets.
IT directors need both a technical and a business background, as well as strong people management skills. They must be effective advocates for the IT strategy as well as translate non-technical expectations into achievable IT solutions.
In other words, these individuals must be fantastic communicators who can decipher business lingo and decode software speak.
An IT Director who thinks analytically is also particularly important, as this position involves not just problem resolution, but process development around how to prioritize and remediate those issues.
In addition, a strong customer service orientation is integral because IT directors often serve as the final escalation point for high-visibility troubleshooting.
An IT Director CV can demonstrate experience with current methodologies (Scrum, PRINCE2, Agile etc.) and demonstrates project management abilities.
How has the role of the IT Director evolved?
In the last few years, analytics, cloud computing, and cognitive technologies have transformed businesses and business practices. These technologies have allowed businesses to syphon valuable insights, predict market movements and develop/build products more quickly.
Rather than sitting on static software that would be serviceable for several years at a time, businesses now need IT solutions which are faster, more powerful, and flexible enough to meet rapidly changing needs. This is true more than ever in the current business environment.
What is the salary of an IT Director in Singapore?
According to the Robert Half Salary Guide, an IT Director salary in Singapore can range between from SGD$187,000 to SGD$243,000 for highly qualified professionals.
When trying to secure the best talent, benchmarking a competitive IT Director salary is recommended.
What is the future of the IT Director in Singapore?
The future of work will require all businesses to transition toward digitisation in some form.
Automation, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-based storage were all triggers for new systems, technologies, and software pre-COVID, and with businesses trying to adapt to the new ‘business-as-usual’, the IT department will be pivotal in their implementation, maintenance, and protection.
In the future of work, an initiative-taking approach is required when determining what the businesses technology requirements are.
One that falls within the remit of the IT Director to guard against misplaced expenses and systems which are not fit for purpose.
How to hire an IT Director in Singapore
If you’re planning to hire an IT Director or tech Director, you can submit a vacancy to Robert Half.
Our technology recruitment team can provide expert help in the identification of strong IT Director skills, will advise on how to compile a competitive remuneration package and can streamline your time to hire, increasing your chances of securing the best talent.
Are you a technology leader looking for your next career opportunity? As a leader in technology recruitment, Robert Half can help you find the right IT role for you in Singapore.
